HI - This is my first ever SwanQueen fanfic. This is AU but the characters that you know and love from Once will be in here. Just maybe not in the way that you expect. I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as i enjoyed writing it.

- Once and the characters are NOT mine i don't claim them in anyway.

- I would also like to thank my good friend SpicyDinosaur for being so kind and agreeing to BETA this for me.

I hope you enjoy it Xo MessyLittleRaindrop oX

ஜீ ஜீஜீ ஜீஜீ

Regina's POV

Sleepless nights and I weren't strangers; not by any stretch of the imagination. If you said that we were best friends, you wouldn't find me saying anything otherwise.

But however, last night was worse than usual. There was a strange feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that something was about to change. What, I couldn't possibly fathom a guess as to what it could be. Even if I tried, I would likely be so far off the mark, that it would no longer be on the same playing field.

As I lay in my California King bed, it was like I was adrift in the vast blue ocean with no glimpse of land that promised safety. I was alone - with no one who could throw me a lifeline and save me – lost in this life that had been forced upon me.

Even before I was born, my life was mapped out for me. I had never noticed it before. And why would I? Every child only sees the best in their mother. Why should mine be different?

But I see it now. The mist is clearing and the reality is coming into focus. I am living the life she wanted, not the one I want. The crowns, The Balls, The relentless collusion with those who would rather watch you fall than reach out a hand for you to hold while they help you up. This life never has been and it never will be the life that I want. The life I want, is one of simplicity. One that you read about in books and one you escape to in your dreams. That is the one that I want.

Little did I know, the freedom that I so desperately craved was closer than it seemed.

As the car door opened, I am drawn from my thoughts. Stepping out onto the gravel courtyard, I began to imagine my new life that would be taking place in this building that stood before me. I had never seen the likes of it before. The building itself was something from a painting - the surroundings placed strategically around, like chess pieces tactfully standing guard so that they did not fall.

Slowly, I walked into the building, further and further away from what I knew, closer to what I can only hope will be everything that I ever dreamed of.

Of course that dream was short lived as I entered into a fuss, something I didn't want. I wanted this to be a step away from everything that I had known and grew up around. But, apparently, my mother had seen to it that my entrance to the school was noted, that and to not so subtly tell me that she still has her hand around my throat, that I would never be really be free from her. No matter where I am, how far away from her I run, I am now and forever will be her prisoner.

Taking a seat to await for my chaperone to arrive, I began to wonder if this school was really my choice or if she subconsciously steered me towards this place. Now I was beginning to understand why she made sure I missed orientation week. The only thing that drowned out the noise and my thoughts was the music that was now playing in my ears from my AirPods.

ஜீ ஜீஜீ ஜீஜீ

Emma's POV

As I stood under the warm water of the shower after my daily run, I felt the arms of my girl wrap around me, a gentle kiss was placed upon my shoulder as we both let the water cleanse us of the sweat that we had worked up during the hour and a half long run. But my mind can't seem to focus on her as it is occupied with the upcoming orientation that we had been so kindly forced into signing up for. Perks of being the 'popular group', right? No one listens to the 'Mean Girls' the 'Nerds' or the outcasts. So, of course the 'popular girls' and the 'Jocks' had to be roped into getting the new kids into certain groups at the school. After all, if no one joined – that activity would no longer exist, now would it?

Dragging myself from the shower, I put on dress code appropriate clothing and fashioned my hair in the same manner. First impressions make lasting impressions - that is something that I always remember my mother telling me before coming to Storybrooke academy and to be honest, the school always says that too. I'm just glad that they're not privy to what goes on in the dorms when lectures stop and the students go home. 'Cause I am pretty sure that we would all get sent home for numerous school violations.

I began to make my way across the courtyard and in the distance I see what could only be described the newest frat boys and sorority pledges. The ones who 'know everything' and 'don't need advice' - know the ones? Yeah … this was going to be one of those days. As I got closer, I could see that the 'Frat Boys' had their claws into the possible new pledges already. Oh, these poor boys haven't got a clue. The hazing that they would go through - their Mommies and Daddies would be getting calls to come get them within a week. One way to cut the numbers down I guess, and main reason that I dislike them so much. Never understood why they needed to be a thing.

Out amongst the crowd of students, I stood drifting off to god knows where while Ruby made yet another welcome speech, the number now lost to me as there had been so many, and it wasn't even halfway through the day. As Ruby continued trying hard to get and to also keep everyone's attention, doing her best to be the proper girl that the school states that they turn us into. All these bodies that stood around, all eager to join even though most of the candidates had already been decided before they came to school that day. Yet another reason I hated them - just because you had a certain family name it automatically gives you an advantage.

Another two hours of this followed before I finally managed to get away from this painful ordeal. To be honest, I would rather stick needles in my eyes. Now all I had to do was head to the front desk to meet some 'important' student who had also started today.

Now who was so important that they had to be met away from everyone else? All I could think was 'They will be at the 'top table, no doubt' probably some stuck up rich kid who's mommy or daddy, possibly both, didn't want their child mixing with commoners, and yet, they get me, the furthest person from that high profile life. I walked along the reception area and I saw) her. A dark headed girl. I could feel the sadness that loomed over her from where I stood. Perhaps this wasn't going to go down the way I initially thought.